Trauma Informed Mindfulness for Teachers of Mindfulness

Trauma can be described as a negative experience that has overwhelmed us in circumstances where adequate support or resources were not available to us. Over the past few decades there has been a growing awareness that trauma can manifest in a variety of different ways with corrosive effects on our psyche, our bodies, our relationships, and our communities, such our mental and physical wellbeing is adversely affected.

There is emerging research that mindfulness can benefit those with mental health difficulties, including trauma by engendering a sense of stability and calm. However, there is also growing evidence that mindfulness and meditation practice can have adverse effects too. In such cases, mindfulness practice can indeed become much more challenging, and without a trauma-sensitive lens, it can actually perpetuate and intensify suffering.

Similarly, teaching mindfulness to others has great benefits and can be hugely rewarding, but it can also bring its own challenges, especially in the context of trauma. This residential workshop is an opportunity for those teaching mindfulness to come together to explore what it means to teach mindfulness in a trauma-informed way, and to practice together.  On this workshop you will:

• increase your knowledge of what trauma is
• learn how trauma might show up in both your practice and teaching of mindfulness
• together with others, explore how you may apply trauma-informed principles in your teaching practice and build on your existing wisdom as a mindfulness practitioner and teacher
• engage in mindfulness practices that are grounding and restorative
• learn how to look after yourself as a teacher and mindfulness practitioner in the context of practicing and teaching trauma-informed mindfulness

 

This is an interactive and experiential workshop, with opportunities for reflection, group work and mindfulness practice.

As the main focus of this workshop is on what it means to teach mindfulness in a  trauma-informed way, it is most suitable for those with experience and training in teaching mindfulness. Final year mindfulness teacher trainees are welcome.

Natasha is a senior psychotherapist, specialising in trauma, currently working for an NHS trauma service in London. Choden is a long time Buddhist monk and mindfulness teacher.

 

Please note the following important points:

• This workshop is aimed at those with existing practice of mindfulness and is therefore not appropriate for complete beginners.
• This workshop does not constitute a formal and complete training as a trauma-informed mindfulness teachers.
• This workshop is not a therapeutic intervention. Due to the nature of the topic covered, please carefully consider your current wellbeing and whether this is the right time for you to engage with this workshop. We would strongly encourage you to contact the tutors prior to booking if you are unsure or if you have any concerns

 

Tutors: Choden, Natasha Micharin

Dates: 18-20 October 2024

Price: £165.00 including manual

Times: 19.00-20.30pm on the Friday evening (after soup at 18.00pm) in-between 8.00am and 20.00pm on the Saturday and in-between 8.00am and 15.00pm on Sunday.

Booking: Please contact info@mindfulnessassociation.net

Location: Online via Zoom or at Samye Ling

If attending in person please book your accommodation and meals for the weekend directly with Samye Ling by emailing bookings@samyeling.org. They will need to know the dates that you would like to stay, what room you would like (please click here to see the room types and prices), your name, and the name of the second person if you are booking a twin room, your address, phone number and preferred email address for the booking. Spaces are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. No room bookings can currently be made via the Samye Ling website.

Read Natasha’s blog about Trauma Informed Mindfulness